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Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Samsung PL120 front
Portability
99
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX300
Samsung PL120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
Photography Glossary

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Samsung NX500 and Samsung PL120, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and both are created by Samsung. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and PL120 (14MP) and the NX500 (APS-C) and PL120 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The NX500 was launched 4 years after the PL120 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung PL120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the NX500 matches up against the PL120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Samsung PL120

 NX500 PL120 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2011Newer by 50 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kClearer screen (+806k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Samsung NX500

 PL120 NX500 

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Samsung PL120

 NX500 PL120 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX500 provides external measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Samsung PL120 has dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Examine the Samsung NX500 and Samsung PL120 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the NX500 against the PL120.

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX500 and PL120 is 87 and 99 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The image underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the NX500 and PL120.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The NX500 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Samsung NX500 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent NX500 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung PL120 as a Portrait photography camera
80
focusing manually
MP count amazing (28MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
28
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX500
Street photography with Samsung PL120
81
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
49
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX500 Sports photography details
Samsung PL120 Sports photography details
75
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
MP count amazing (28 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
26
good MP (14 megapixels)
can't change focal length (()mm)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX500 Travel photography advice
Samsung PL120 Travel photography advice
78
has bluetooth
provides touch to focus
MP count amazing (28MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
great max aperture (f)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung PL120 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count amazing (28 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
33
great max aperture (f)
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (()mm)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX500 Vlogging factors
Samsung PL120 Vlogging factors
34
built-in touchscreen
has face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone socket
31
great max aperture (f)
comes with external microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Samsung PL120
 Samsung NX500Samsung PL120
General Information
Company Samsung Samsung
Model type Samsung NX500 Samsung PL120
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2015-02-06 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMe 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 28 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 6480 x 4320 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 -
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 209 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens zoom range - ()
Amount of lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,036 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 1280 x 720
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video file format H.265 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 287 grams (0.63 lb) -
Dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 87 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1379 not tested
Other
Battery life 370 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) -
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots One -
Cost at launch $800 $150